Vehicle washer



E. H. LCT'STETTER VEHICLE WASHER Filed Dec. 2l, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet E. H. LQSTETTER Eil Aug. 14, 19.28o

gnomi/fof,

Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,796

E. H. LOSTETTER VEHICLE WASHER Filed Deo. 21, 19422 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @Hornet/1 Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

Vuni'ran STATES 1,680,796 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD H. LosTETTER, or CINCINNATI, oIIIo, AssIGNoR To THOMAS F. COSTELLO, or CINCINNATI, oHIo.

VEHICLE WASHER.

vThe present invention relates to vehicle washers especially adapted for use in garages. a

Objects of the present invention are to ,b provde a washer which includes outlets in proximity to all parts of'the vehicle in order to expedite the washing operation. and reduce the expenditure of labor to a in1n1inum;,to provide a convenient supporting structure l for the vehicle embodying suitable drainage means, lto thereby facilitate work of attendants washing the veh'cle; and to provide a simple structure which may be conveniently installed in any garage at a relatively low l cost. 0

A co-ordinate object of the invention .is to provide a vehicle washer which embodies a suitable drainage system in order that the water may be continuously drained as used durfng the washing operation, suitable means also bein provided in order to control the volume o water supply, as well as permitting the water to be .cut oil' except at the point or points required by the attendant so as toeliminate Wastage of the water.

The above and other objects of this invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention taken in con- 3U nection with the accompanying drawlngs,

wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle washer constructed in accordance with this invention illustating its application;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device with the overhead supply pipes removedyand Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the washer.

v The device of this invention embodies a supporting base 4 made of concrete or other similar material which is provided .with a drainage pit 5 inclini'ng toward one end and provided with a screened drainage opening 6 at the lowest end of the pit. Run ways 7 are formed inthe surface of the base in close proximity to the pit 5, each run way havin an outlet duct 8 leading therefrom whicl opens into the pit `5 so that water may be carried from the runways into the drainage pit.

A water supply pipe 9 is suspended from he ceiling or other supporting structure 10 abovethe drainage'pit 5. One end 11 of the ilipply ipe is closed while the opposite or et en' may be tapped into a main water supply pipe or engaged with any source of Water supply in a manner well known in the art. The supply pipe is equipped with a plurality of laterally extending tributaries one pair 12 of which is in communication with a T-shaped pipe 13 arranged in the base 4 adjacent the deep end of the draining pit 5 and communicates with a rectangular ejector pipe 14. rl`he ejector pipe 14 is mounted on a complemental shelf formed in the too of the base 4 within thepit 5. This pipe is provided witha multiplicity of perforations on-the sides and at the shallow end of the pit so as to project the water upwardly at an angle against the insides of the wheels, fenders, running boards etc. The end of the pipe at the deep end of the pit is imperforate to prevent spraying water against'the engine or its associate mechanism. A spur pipe 15 leads olf from the rear end of the p pe 14 and is 'provided with a perforated branch 16A extending parallel with the rear end of the pipe 14 so as to project water against the rear end ofthe vehicle. The water supplied to the branch 16 is controlled by a Valve 17 so 'as to close communication through said branch at the yoption of the user. Communication through the tributaries f 12 may be closed at any time desired by use of valves controlled by operating members. 18

`which in the present instance consists of cables.

Tributaries 19 extend laterally from the supply pipe 9 in proximity to the pipes 12 and communicate with supply pipes 20 superimposed on stanchions 21. These stanchions are arrangedl on the base 4 outside of the runway 7. In this way the supply pipes are positioned to lievabove the running boards ofthe vehicle so as to eject the water on the sides of the vehicle body.

The holes in the spray pipe 20 are preferably staggered so as to project the water alternately-in jets varying from 30 above the horizontal to 30 below the horizontal. 100 Communication from the tributaries 19 into the spray pipes 20 is controlled by valves mounted inthe tributaries pipes, the valves being actuated by operating members 22 which are similar in construction to the operating members-18 of the tributaries 12.

A series of tributaries 23 extend from the supply pipe 9 above the drainage pit and terminate at points appreciably below said supply pipe. The outlet terminalsof U0 said tributaries have exible tubes 24 engaged therewith the outlet ends of said tubes being equipped with nozzles 25. Each nozzle carries a valve operated by a lever 26 which controls the volume of Water passing through said nozzles and permits the water to be closed otf at the option of the user. By making the tubes 24 flexible, it is apparent that the nozzles 25 may be` manipulated in any desired manner y, by the user thereof so that all parts of the body o the vehicle may be reached with facility and expedition. In order to positively guide the vehicle onto the, run ways 7 and eliminate the possibility of the vehicle entering the pit a guard rail structure 27 is provided.

, This structure is mounted upon the base 4 and is of sufficient height to guide the vehicle without in any way damaging the latter or preventing free passage of the vehicle onto the run Way.

In use of this device, it is apparent that the water is constantly supplied through the pipe 9 and may be dispensed through all of the tributaries simultaneously or through any one of said tributaries independently of the other, at the option of the attendant. The stationary outlets are so arranged as to project the water to heretofore inaccessible portions of the vehicle while the movable outlets are so constructed and arranged 'as to enable the same to be handled with convenience. The system herein employed has been found to greatly expedite washing of vehicles, especially'automobiles, and its arrangement eliminates the possibility of water coming in contact with the engine or associate mechanism unless actually sprayed thereon by the attendant through one of the nozzles 25. The construction furthermore eliminates the necessity of the attendant standing in water at all times during washing of a vehicle and contines the area cmployed for washing a car to a minimum.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in this device especially in the details of construction, roportion and arrangement of parts within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is A vehicle Washer including a drainage pit with vehicle runways extending' alongside of the pit and having ducts leading therefrom into the pit, water pipes arranged in proximit,y to the pit to project water against a ve iicle mounted on said runways, and means arranged adjacent a pit end to guide the vehicle on to said runways.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

EDWARD H, LOSTETTER. 

